The Opelousas courier., 1887-11-26

peaceful. The white represented the intel
ligenee. wealth and virtue OF the STATE. Inc
ducts from which support and maintenance
were provided for both races. There was
every reason why the relation should con-
time friendly, and both correspondlngly
orosper. Wicked, selfish and designing men
went among the negroes informed them OF
their numerical strength, perverted their
i~maginations and aroused q hostility to the
white race. The story OF
M1sRULE AND BAD GOVERNMENT,
for the selfish benefit of q few wicked, bad
men in Louisiana became a scandal told IN
every household i'll this great coqr try. There
was no aspiration in life to which RID bltlon
could look. There WAS no security to per-
son or property. The public treasury. was
fattened thNt il might be robbed. L1cen-
tiousuegs and depravlty were triumphant
Manhood was debased and pecIlat!on was
was the rule. 1t was negro domineE9hi
What Wonder there was rebellion against that
such authority. In distant States the WrG saTa
were recounted and sympathy expressed.
The purpose to overthrow the whole struc-
ture of Radical rule was too strong ana de-
termiped to fail. The men of this state were
fixed in the resolution to regain the control
of their State, and having, once gotten IT,
never again to surrender 1t to negro oolnllid-
ton. -. So,
and admired thy splendid struggle the good
people of Louisiana had made and applauded
to the echo the victory they gained. Hampton
had made the same fight in South CGroilna,
and a few years before Vance had LED the
Democratic voters of the old North state III a
similar battle against carpet-bag II negro
rule. It was a proud day for Louisiana. In
another State | watched the struggle ana
made up my mind to come to LOUISIANA 10
live; to cast my lot with this people,
I have said that the good people OF the
State resolved never to surrender the State to
negro domination; they we're sgSSr6es sIieee
now. They vented strong men and q strong
State government. They had been depressed
if not crushed. Strangers had eaten up
their, substance: the state had been pun
everything like a public institution was.
feeble and languishing. wisdom in the coun-
ellis of the State was needed. Strong hands
| Cheerfuiness and hope had to be inspired.
| Look abroad at our sister States who have
made the same battle, and see how similar
| the condition of things there, as We remem-
steadily advanced in material wealth and
trace it ali to one source, good government
and the supremacy of the white race.
I will not stop to. dwell on the causes OF
| ment from 1877 to 1879. It may have been
| the yellow fever of 1873. 1t may have been
because the State adbe SO exhausted by
| Radical rule for SO many years that tne re-
| cuperat1on was SO slow as not to be percepJ-
ible. However it may have been, the people
of the State demanded q change. 1hey
| called for a new Constitution. Ihey placed
new men in charge. - No.
Fred. Ogden. I believed then, az L think
now, that he represented heroic virtues. tnat
he was strong in principle and aggresslyeln
his purpose. I felt then that L had been
brought into the State under false pretenses;
that | had been allured by the Whisper on
promises held to the ear and broken to the
hope. The new Constitution OF 1879 was
the production of earnest, vigorous men, OF
men who had suffered wrong, OF men who
manifestly wanted to correct abuses and ad-
vance in material prosperity. They, guarded
the power they delegated, they wanted mated
monoplles and exclusive privileges to be
abolished from this State, they wanted man
ufactories of every kind and were hbere1 in
exempting them from the burdens OF taxa
ton: they wanted economical and sllnple
government. 1t marks al epoch IN the IN
dustrial activity of this State, At first, slow
and cautious, but continually increasing
year after year.
have a sense of security. in their pereons and
property. Do you believe that. it Is due to
any one thing so much as to the fact that
WHITE
prevails? ] would not be understood as be.
ing hostile to the negro, except when ne If
aggressive. When the question is presented
as to whether . negro or white man mus
govern, there can be but one answer IN tfilf
State or section. The elevation, the educa'
ton, and general welfare of that race can bt
safely entrusted to the white population
The destiny of our State, its future, IT.
growth and development. the happiness o.
Its people, have been committed TO the Hhltt
race.
Whatever triumph over necessity, ovel
poverty, over ignorance, over weaKness "
look for, it must come from that race. Ii
the grand march and procession OF the States
of this section to prosperity and happlness,
the obstacles to progress n nateT1al dc
yeIopment must be pushed aside. Whoever
hy frarH nv IpnOfanPH. 6V rOlfJDtlOfl OF
w~ickedness, stands in the Wy, must be re
moved. It is not the color 1ne OF passion
and prejudice, of hatred orsappressIon' bu
the color line of weakness: ignorance, pov
erty and corruptioa. Ii that race ID ullfor
tunate, we will protect them; it it ise1ii1t
crate, we will educate them: blt we Wlf5no
ba~dominated by them. We VIII not place II
their hands anywhere III this magnlIlcen
State the power to tax and to destroy, thu
power to blight or to weaken, the power Il
retard ard to hold bpck tlla development Q
this community. II they Will lti iis ana Soiii
in the grand destiny of our State, they WI
share in all the benefits, they and their chi
dren7s childrens but il not, we viii go Tor
ward without IadRRd in spite OF them.
believe that
GOV. M,ENEgY AND HIS SUPPORTERS
have, with great wisdom, reached this con
~clusion, and that the policy is fixed and WI
Wherever disorder breaks out the law vii
. be enforced If civil process is notpowerfu
or prompt enough to cope with the LAY
breakers, the military power OF the star
will be exercised and quletGestored. WIS
men do not need much oFernmen an
: wicked, ignorant men ought to be subdue
.l<hy the strong arm Of authority. :.
: Mi.s in this statesdoss notfeei the securlt
. determined man in the ExeeEsive? 4 ma
: who has had large experiences in ulfE5cl
Psituations, q man devoted TO the welfare e
: The state, a man with a purpose and plan
= 0na1sa45n, q n With a U45nfg
, support in the public sentiment OF the Stat
: to sustain and uphold him.
: In 1879 the people of Louisiana demande
a change OF m ! IHitS az and i, q men, axb n9 aae
: which has been made to you by the serVar
in charge of the administration, do you wal
to experiment. with new raen and ne
mlet hnatba5 or . DO fpa m wans W e g a eSeh had so y !
: part in bringing about The changed cond
4 ton of things?
! Weof the Democratic party are Joint l,eil
! inheritance left Us by our fathers. We ahal
' with them the memories sanctiied by soFro
and priyation, and revere the sentiment tn;
q would perpetuate the gallantry and heroisl
: Of the soldiers who foughtin the late wa
: Honesty, and courage and purity are graz
elements in the character OF any man..
would not detract ANYTHING from Il
3 splendid record Gen. Nichols has mad
I The State is proud of the manned hero Of
! the splendid services he has rendered to d
: Commonwealth. He has enjoyed the highe
honors from the people. In this canpaie
8 he has been brought forward to champlt
3 the cause OF reform, to engender bitter al
2 mosities, to warrant his followers to use Il
i ~coarsest and most malignant yitnperatio'
Of men who differed from them on econom
4 questions. .Et cry one that was in distres
y esery one that was in debt and every Of
that was discontented gathered thensely
i unto him; aud he became o captain ov
. them.n
= their distress and recited their g~rievane
= and discomfort. The people are not co
II cerned with
is PRIVATE GRIEVANCES AND ~DrscoNTENT.
$ What they are interested in is to know If t
. State has prospered, If the laws have be
ri executed, If their servants have been fat
= full. There hmo reason Tor a change; the
is every ~reas6a@swhy there should be
r. change: no interTupt aon or break at this til
in the great purpose and plan of mater